A popular cafe frequented by Manchester United supporters near Old Trafford faces a £10,000 fine following the discovery of a severe rat infestation by health inspectors.
Inspection Reveals Rodent Problems
Inspectors issued a zero-star hygiene rating to The United Cafe on Chester Road after uncovering gnawed potatoes, rat droppings under the chip range, and other pest-related issues during an August 2024 visit prompted by local rat activity reports.
The United Cafe, an independent venue themed around Manchester United that also operates as a bar and off-licence, voluntarily closed alongside neighboring Legends for a deep clean and pest-proofing measures. Remediation work was required before reopening.
The cafe offers favorites like fish and chips and full English breakfasts, holding a 4.2 Google rating.
Follow-Up Violations and Court Action
Undercover inspectors returned in November 2024, where staff served a gluten-containing burger to an officer who had declared an allergy. Records also showed inaccurate daily rat checks, with the site falsely logged as pest-free.
At Manchester Magistrates Court, Cafe United Ltd received an £8,000 fine plus £1,000 in costs. Director Sean Stokes, 56, of Bury New Road, Whitefield, Manchester, was fined £1,048 plus a £419 surcharge. Both pleaded guilty to food safety breaches.
Recent Hygiene Concerns Persist
The cafe’s December 2025 inspection awarded just one star out of five, citing major improvements needed in food safety management.
Councillor Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety, stated: “Visitors and residents in Trafford have the right to expect good standards of hygiene, and reliable advice on ingredients, from any food outlet that trades in our borough. This prosecution shows that we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short of what is acceptable. Thanks to our environmental health team for pursuing this case and bringing this business and its director to court. It is a clear warning that substantial fines can be issued to businesses that risk putting people’s health at risk.”
